Map of the eastern Mediterranean

Small statues from the Dark Ages: cult statues from Karfi, Crete (left and center), eleventh century BC; Centaur (?) found among grave goods at Lefkandi, Euboia (right), tenth century BC.

The "Relief Amphora" from Mykonos, depicting scenes from the sack of Troy (left and center), early seventh century BC; bronze statues from the temple at Dreros, Crete, fashioned using sphyrelaton tecnique, eighth century BC.

Connections through Cyprus and Rhodes. (left) gold pendants, Rhodes, c.650-600 BC; (right) electrum pendant, also c.650-600 BC, Rhodes.

Compare these with the shield stories in the epic poems …

First [Hephaistos] shaped the shield so great and strong, adorning it all over // and binding it round with a gleaming circuit in three layers; and //the baldric was made of silver. He made the shield in five // thicknesses, and with many a wonder did his cunning hand enrich it.

Homer, Iliad, 18.478-481.

Many found as dedications at the emerging Panhellenic Sanctuaries

By way of Cyprus and Rhodes

(left) terracotta kore, Crete, c.650-625 BC, approx. 17.5cm/7"; (right) Bronze kouros, Delphi, c.625 BC, approx. 19cm/7.5".

The most famous of these was at the panhellenic sanctuary at Delphi.

The son of Peleus now brought out the prizes for the third contest and showed them to the Argives. These were for the painful art of wrestling. For the winner there was a great tripod ready for setting upon the fire, and the Achaeans valued it among themselves at twelve oxen. For the loser he brought out a woman skilled in all manner of arts, and they valued her at four oxen.

Homer, Iliad, 23.700-705.

Literally, "first half"

Protomes on display at Delphi

Korai, mid-7th century BC: (top) Thera, abandoned in quarry, 7'+ tall; (right) "Lady of Auxerre", Crete, less than 1m/3' tall; (bottom) Metope (?), from the Temple of Athena on the Acropolis of Mycenae

Detail of the limestone lintel of Prinias Temple A

(left) plan and (right) Volutes of the Temple of Athena, Smyrna, Asia Minor c.600 BC.

Delphi: stadium (above), Tholos and Athena Pronaia (below)

Delphi: the Donation of Croesus and Gyges of Lydia

Chryselephantine statues (traditionally identified as Apollo[left] and Arteis [right]) from Delphi

Delos: Panhellenic cult center to Apollo (and where the Nikandre Kore was found)

At Delos, Rheneia and Mykonos. Rented from "the gods" by wealthy landowners elsewhere, generally with a 10-year lease

Archaic Kouroi. All Greek examples are over 6' (almost 2m) tall.

The Greeks do not normally do this kind of work, but the Egyptians do. They do not calculate proportions accding to the eye, like the Greeks, but when they begin work on the blocks they agree on a modular system, according to which they divide the body into twenty-one parts plus a quarter, and after agreeing on the total size of the figure, they each work different parts commensurate with the others.

Diodorus, 1.98.5

Archaic Korai. These vary in height from about 4'-6'.

Painted statuary reconstructions (left); Lady of Auxerre and Nikandre kore (right)